Trying to get to the all-rounder stage: Kyle Jamieson

Christchurch, Feb 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson, who had a dream Test debut against India, is confident of making "massive strides" in the years to come.

In the first Test which New Zealand won by 10 wickets at the Basin Reserve, Jamieson picked up four wickets in the first innings.

"Yeah, for sure (looking to add pace). I'm still a long way off (from) where I want to be as a bowler and as a cricketer. The stuff that I started to work on with Auckland, with Heinrich (Malan), I think in the next year or so, I'm going to make massive strides," ICC quoted Jamieson as saying.

He also contributed with a valuable 44 with the bat and swelled his team's first innings lead to 183 which ultimately proved to be enough to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Impressed by his own batting performance, the tall New Zealand pacer now aspires to become a genuine all-rounder.

"I was pretty much a batter all through high school and then made the New Zealand U-19s, and Dayle Hadlee got a hold of me and told me to run in, which kind of shifted me towards becoming more of a bowler," Jamieson said.

"I always liked batting, it was probably what I grew up admiring the most -- whilst I did bowl, I did not think of that as my career option growing up. Now I'm a bowler who can bat, trying to get to the all-rounder stage, that's where I ideally want to be," he added.

With Neil Wagner set to return to the mix after missing the first Test due to the birth of his first child, Jamieson is no certainty to play the second at the Hagley Oval.

Source: IANS